Gander, town, on east-central Newfoundland Island, in the province of Newfoundland, Canada. Gander developed after the site was chosen for the construction of an air base in 1935. During World War II (1939-1945), the airport served as an Atlantic base for British, Canadian, and United States aircraft. In 1945 the base became a civilian airport, which the Canadian government acquired in 1949 after Newfoundland became a province. The Air Control Center in Gander plays a major role in controlling flights over the North Atlantic. Gander was incorporated as a town in 1954. In 1985 an airplane carrying 256 passengers—248 of whom were U.S. soldiers returning from the Middle East—crashed after takeoff from Gander. All crew members and passengers were killed. The accident was the worst air disaster in Canada's history. Population 10,207 (1986); 10,364 (1996).Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
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